Message handling apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for handling messages output to a computer console, including easy and accurate definition of message handling procedures. The apparatus includes a response definition unit that dynamically selects a console message, receives definition information pertaining thereto, and stores the information in a storage unit. The received definition information defines at least a portion of a predetermined procedure to be executed in response to the selected message. The selected message may be displayed on a display unit in a message selection window. The received definition information may be entered through a definition window. When the selected message is reported to the apparatus, a response execution unit, coupled to the storage unit, executes the predetermined procedure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit, under applicable provisionsof U.S. law, of Japanese Application No. 9-357234, which was filed inthe Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 25, 1997, and the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a message handling apparatus(i.e., an apparatus for dealing with messages) for automaticallyexecuting a certain response to messages generated by a computer.

[0003] During operation of a computer system various messages arenotified to a special terminal called a console. The console displayssuch messages on a display screen. In general, a knowledgeable operatormonitors the displayed messages, obtains an understanding of the contentof the messages, and takes necessary action.

[0004] For example, when a magnetic tape mount request message isdisplayed, the operator loads the designated magnetic tape onto amagnetic tape unit. When a message notifying a shortage of printer paperis displayed, the operator loads the attached printer with more printerpaper. When a message notifying an abnormal end of a program isdisplayed, the operator inputs a command from a keyboard of the consoleto re-start the abnormally ended program. When a message notifying anirregular condition of hardware is displayed, the operator personallycontacts a hardware maintenance person.

[0005] A suggestion to ease the load on the operator has been proposedin Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H5-14492. Aseries of commands, corresponding to message outputs from a switchingmachine, are stored. When a message is output, the operator workload isreduced by automatically executing the commands corresponding to themessage.

[0006] This reduction in operator workload, by automatic operation, isexecuted not only in the switching machine but also in the computer.However, such related art has a disadvantage to be explained. In therelated art it is required to previously define the responses to beexecuted for the messages output from the switching machine and thecomputer. Namely, the commands to be executed must be defined previouslyfor all output messages, or at least for a select number of necessarymessages.

[0007] If commands are set for all messages, the commands must be setfor each message even though many of the messages are not output in realoperation. On the other hand, when only those messages considerednecessary have associated commands, if a message is selected erroneouslyat the time of selection of necessary messages, then (in some cases) acommand is not executed in response to the message, even though thecommand is intended to be executed automatically.

[0008] In any case, the existing approach requires response definitionsto be registered before operation, and a definition cannot bedynamically changed. To define responses for new messages andnon-selected messages currently being displayed, various processes arerequired. In particular, the operation has to be interrupted afterstoring information identifying the message or preparing a copy of suchinformation. Alternatively, the definition information is changed whenoperation is completed and thereafter the operation has to be restarted.

[0009] Moreover, the operator himself has been required to executeadequate responses for messages which cannot be processed with only thestored commands. Therefore, an operator is required to monitor themessages output. If the operator fails to timely notice an outputmessages, the necessary response is not executed or else is executedwith a certain delay.

[0010] In addition, when a large number of messages are displayed,important messages are hidden by other messages and may, to a largeextent, fail to be noticed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to enabledynamic alteration of predefined responses to console messages.

[0012] In is also an object of the present invention to eliminate therequirement for an operator to always monitor the messages output to theconsole.

[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to lower the riskthat important output messages will fail to be noticed by being hiddenamong other output messages.

[0014] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will, in part,be set forth in the description that follows and will, in part, beapparent from the description or may be learned by practice of theinvention as described.

[0015] To achieve objects thereof, the present invention provides amessage handling apparatus comprising a response definition unit,coupled to a storage unit and an input device, and a response executionunit. The response definition unit dynamically selects a console messagefrom a plurality of console messages, receives definition informationinput to the input device, and stores the received definitioninformation to the storage unit. Each of the plurality of consolemessages provides corresponding status information regarding a computersystem. The received definition information defines at least a portionof a predetermined procedure to be executed in response to the selectedconsole message. The response execution unit is coupled to the storageunit and executes the predetermined procedure in response to theselected console message.

[0016] The present invention also achieves objects thereof by providinga method of message handling, the method comprising the steps ofselecting a console message, creating definition information, storingthe created definition information, and executing a predeterminedprocedure in response to the selected console message. The selectedconsole message is selected from a plurality of console messages, eachof which provides corresponding status information regarding a computersystem. The created definition information defines at least a portion ofa predetermined procedure to be executed in response to the selectedconsole message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary structure of an object systemto which the present invention is applied;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a message display window inaccordance with the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a message selection condition ona message display window in accordance with the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a diagram of a definition window in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a definition table in accordance with the presentinvention; and

[0024]FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the process of a monitorprogram in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the structure of a system to whichthe present invention may be applied. In this system, an external memorydevice 18, a terminal device 14, a console 15, and a FAX modem 16 areconnected to a computer 9.

[0027] The computer 9 has processing section 12 with a processing unit(CPC) 12-1 and a memory 12-2 that executes a plurality of applicationprograms 11 (11-1, 11-2, etc.) and a monitor program 13 under thecontrol of an operating system (OS) 10.

[0028] Usual manipulations for the application programs 11 are conductedthrough the terminal device 14. Terminal device 14 is typically composedof a display unit, a keyboard and a mouse, etc. (not shown).

[0029] If a certain irregular event occurs during execution of operatingsystem 10 or an application program 11, messages are output. The outputmessages are collected by monitor program 13 and are output to console15. In addition, a message identification code is assigned to each ofthe messages output from operating system 10 and application program11-n.

[0030] Console 15 typically has a composition similar to terminal device14, having a display unit, a keyboard and a mouse (not shown). The I/Oof console 15 is controlled by monitor program 13.

[0031] External memory device 18 stores various kinds of data andprograms, etc. FAX modem 16 communicates with a FAX device, a pagercenter, and various devices, such as other computers, connected via atelephone line 17 using application programs 11-n operating on computer9.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 1, the present invention is embodied in monitor program 13 and adefinition table 5-1. A message processing unit 1 processes messages forcommand execution and message definition. A message displaying unit 2displays messages on a display device such as the display unit (notshown) of console 15. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, messagedisplaying unit 2 displays a plurality of messages in a display window(to be described below).

[0033] A message selecting unit 3 receives a message selection input,such as from a mouse (not shown) connected to console 15, and selects amessage for message definition in response thereto. A definition unit 4receives definition information from, for example, the keyboard (notshown) connected to console 15. The received definition informationdefines at least a portion of a predetermined procedure to be executedby message processing unit 1 in response to reporting of a selectedmessage to message processing unit 1 from a message input unit 8.Definition unit 4 stores the received definition information to adefinition information storage unit 5. In accordance with a preferredembodiment, definition information for the selected message, includingthe received definition information, is stored to definition informationstorage unit 5 in a definition table 5-1.

[0034] Definition table 5-1 defines the various response procedures tobe automatically executed for respective output messages. Duringexecution of monitor program 13, definition table 5-1 is arranged inmemory 12-2, otherwise definition table 5-1 is stored in external memorydevice 18.

[0035]FIG. 6 shows an example of definition table 5-1. The upper mostrow of the table shown in FIG. 6 identifies the information stored ineach corresponding column. In the first column, the messageidentification code is stored. In the second column, an instruction forwhether to display the message is stored. When the content of thiscolumn is YES, the message is not displayed.

[0036] The messages output from operating system 10 and applicationprogram 11 include very important ones and those which may be neglectedwithout any problem. Display of unwanted messages can be avoided bydesignating the no-display mode for those messages.

[0037] In the third column, an instruction is stored indicating whethera corresponding message should be transmitted to a pager when themessage for the console is output. In the fourth column the pager numberis stored, and in the fifth column, a message to be transmitted to thepager is stored.

[0038] A certain message indicates a fault to which an adequate responsecannot be performed by only an operator. If such a message is displayed,the operator is requested to contact an authorized maintenance person.In this case, contact with the maintenance person can be madeautomatically simply by setting the message to transmit a message to thepager of the maintenance person.

[0039] In the fifth column, an instruction is stored indicating whetherto execute a certain command when a message is output. The sixth columnstores the command to be executed. In the case of certain messages, theproblem which caused the message to be output can be solved only byexecuting one or a plurality of commands. In this case, an operator isnot required to make any response so long as the command for thispurpose is set.

[0040] The second row indicates an example of practical definitioncontent for a message. This example defines that the message has theidentification code “ABC0001”; when this message is output, the messageis not displayed; the message “irregular event is generated in thecenter 1” is transmitted to the pager having the number “03-1234-5678”;and the command “RECOVER” is executed.

[0041] Monitor program 13 executes a process in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. The process starts at step 20. When a messageoutput from operating system 10 or application program 11 is input,whether a response for this message has been defined is determined atstep 21.

[0042] Since a message identification code is given to all outputmessages, determination of a defined response and recognition ofresponse content for such a definition are carried out simultaneously.This is done by retrieving the definition table information using themessage identification code as a key.

[0043] If a definition is not registered in definition table 5-1, thenthe operation goes to step 27. When a definition is registered in thedefinition table, then whether a command is defined is determined atstep 22. When a command is defined, the operation goes to step 24 afterexecution of the command at step 23. In accordance with the preferredembodiment, the command is executed at step 23 by a command executionunit 6. If a command is not defined, then the operation goes to step 24by skipping step 23.

[0044] At step 24, it is determined whether the corresponding message isto be transmitted. When message transmission is defined, thecorresponding message is transmitted at step 25 and thereafter theoperation goes to step 26. If message transmission is not defined, thenthe operation goes to step 26 by skipping step 25.

[0045] During the message transmission step 25, a connection isextended, via FAX modem 16, to the pager center connected to telephoneline 17. The pager number of the message transmission destination,preset in the definition table, and the message to be displayed on thepager, are transmitted in accordance with the communication protocol ofthe pager center. Thereby, the pager center instructs the pager havingthe designated number to display the designated message. As a result,the message is displayed on the pager. In accordance with the preferredembodiment, a message transmitting unit 7 establishes the connection andcontrols the transmission of the message to the pager center.

[0046] At step 26, it is determined whether to display the message. Whendisplay of the message is instructed, a message display process isexecuted at step 27. The message display of step 27 is also executedwhen it is determined at step 21 that a process for the message is notdefined.

[0047]FIG. 3 shows an example of a display window for message output onthe display unit (not shown) of console 15. In the example of FIG. 3,five messages are displayed, each with date, time and code. Thedisplayed date indicates the date of the message output. The displayedtime indicates the time of the message output. The code is theidentification information previously assigned to the output message. Atstep 28, after the message is output at step 27 or message non-displayis instructed at step 26, it is determined whether an instruction isissued for selection of the message being displayed.

[0048]FIG. 4 shows an example of displayed message selection. Anoperator can select the message being displayed by operating the mouse.The mouse cursor is placed on the message being displayed within themessage display window to video-invert the message. Message selectioncan be indicated by a double click of the mouse button. When the messageis selected, a definition window is output to the display unit at step29. The response for the message can be set when the operator uses thedefinition window.

[0049]FIG. 5 shows an example of the definition window. The definitionwindow has an item for selecting whether the message is displayed; anitem for selecting whether the message is to be transmitted to thepager; a field for inputting the pager number; a field for inputting amessage to be transmitted to the pager; an item for selecting whether acommand is to be executed; and a field for inputting the command to beexecuted.

[0050] As to the selection of items, “YES” or “NO” is selected byoperating the mouse. Characters can be input to the input fields byoperating the keyboard. Upon completion of a response definition byoperation of the definition window, the preset information is stored indefinition table 5-1 at step 31 (FIG. 7). The process of monitor program13 is completed, as explained above at step 32 (FIG. 7).

[0051] The message handling method has been described above in terms ofnon-display of a message, transmission of a message to the pager, andexecution of a command. However, methods encompassed by the presentinvention are not limited to such specific embodiments. For example, itis possible to combine various response methods as required, includinggeneration of electronic mail, reading of a message from a voice outputapparatus, generation of a warning sound, and so forth.

[0052] According to the present invention, the displayed message isselected on the display screen and a response content is defined for theselected message. Therefore, the response can easily be added for alater output of the same message. In addition, a mistake in selection ofthe message can also be eliminated.

[0053] With the present invention, an operator is not required always tomonitor the messages output to the display unit. In addition, since themessage to be displayed on the display unit is also selectivelydisplayed, the risk that important messages fail to be noticed, becausethe important messages are hidden among the other messages, can belowered.

[0054] Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown anddescribed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the presentinvention includes all such embodiments and variations, to the extentthat the same are included in the scope of the invention as defined bythe claims appended hereto or are equivalent to the subject matterdefined thereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. A message handling apparatus, comprising: aresponse definition unit, coupled to a storage unit and an input device,that dynamically selects a console message from a plurality of consolemessages, receives definition information input to the input device, andstores the received definition information to the storage unit, each ofthe plurality of console messages providing corresponding statusinformation regarding a computer system and the received definitioninformation defining at least a portion of a predetermined procedure tobe executed in response to the selected console message; and a responseexecution unit, coupled to the storage unit, that executes thepredetermined procedure in response to the selected console message. 2.The message handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiveddefinition information includes first information indicating whether thepredetermined procedure includes display of the selected console messageon a display unit.
 3. The message handling apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe predetermined procedure includes display of the selected consolemessage on the display unit.
 4. The message handling apparatus of claim1, further comprising a message displaying unit that displays theselected message on a display unit when the predetermined procedureincludes display of the selected console message.
 5. The messagehandling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage unit storesdefinition information including the received definition information andcomprising: a message identification code that identifies the selectedconsole message; a text for the selected console message; and anindication of whether the predetermined procedure includes execution ofa specified command.
 6. The message handling apparatus of claim 1,wherein said response definition unit selects the selected consolemessage in response to a message selection input.
 7. The messagehandling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a message transmissionunit that transmits a specified message to another apparatus in responseto the selected console message when the predetermined procedureincludes transmitting the specified message.
 8. The message handlingapparatus of claim 7, wherein the other apparatus is a paging system. 9.The message handling apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a displayunit, and wherein: at least one of the plurality of console messages isdisplayed on said display unit, the at least one console messageincluding the selected console message; and the message selection inputis generated by a pointing operation carried out with a pointing devicecoupled to said display unit, the pointing operation indicatingselection of the selected console message.
 10. The message handlingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the received definition informationdefines the predetermined procedure to include execution of a specifiedcommand.
 11. The message handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidresponse definition unit comprises: a message selecting unit thatselects the selected console message in response to a message selectioninput; a message displaying unit that displays the selected consolemessage on a display unit; and a definition unit that receives thereceived definition information in response to a message definitioninput.
 12. A method of message handling, comprising the steps of:selecting a console message from a plurality of console messages, eachof the plurality of console messages providing corresponding statusinformation regarding a computer system; creating, based on operatorinput, definition information defining at least a portion of apredetermined procedure to be executed in response to the selectedconsole message; storing the created definition information; andexecuting the predetermined procedure when the selected console messageis generated within the computer system.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the creating step includes defining whether the predeterminedprocedure includes display of the selected console message on a displayunit.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined procedureincludes display of the selected console message on the display unit.15. The method of claim 12, wherein: the storing step stores the createddefinition information to a storage unit storing other definitioninformation corresponding to the selected console message, whereby theother definition information is modified to include the createddefinition information; and the modified definition information,including the created definition information, includes: a messageidentification code that identifies the selected console message; a textfor the selected console message; and an indication of whether thepredetermined procedure includes execution of a specified command. 16.The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined procedure includestransmitting to a specified apparatus a specified message correspondingto the selected console message.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thespecified apparatus is a paging system.
 18. The method of claim 12,wherein the selecting step includes the steps of: displaying at leastone of the plurality of console messages on a display unit, the at leastone console message including the selected console message; andindicating selection of the selected console message with a pointingdevice coupled to the display unit.
 19. A computer-readable mediumencoded with a program for message handling within a computer system,comprising the functions of: selecting a console message from aplurality of console messages, each of the console messages providingcorresponding status information regarding a computer system; creating,based on operator input, definition information defining at least aportion of a predetermined procedure to be executed in response to theselected console message; storing the created definition information;and executing the predetermined procedure when the selected consolemessage is generated within the computer system.
 20. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the selecting step of saidprogram includes the steps of: displaying at least one of the pluralityof console messages on a display unit, the at least one console messageincluding the selected console message; and indicating selection of theselected console message with a pointing device coupled to the displayunit.